6.3 & 6.

4 FACTORING TRINOMIALS OF THE FORM ax² + bx + c BY

GROUPING (a∙c method) AND PERFECT SQUARE TRINOMIALS
To Factor Trinomials by Grouping:
- Factor out a GCF, if there is one other than 1.
- For ax² + bx + c, find two numbers whose product is a ∙ c and whose sum is b.
- Write the middle term, bx, using the two numbers (factors) found from the previous
step.
- Factor by grouping.
Ex: Factor 2x² + 11x + 12.
__ ∙ __ = 24 (a ∙ c = 2 ∙ 12 = 24)
__ + __ = 11 (sum gives b)

Factors of 24 Sum of factors

Rewrite using the two numbers found, then factor by grouping.

Example 1: Factor 5x² + 27x + 10.

Example 2: Factor 4x² + 12x + 5.

Example 3: Factor 6x² - 5x + 1.

Example 4: Factor 12x² + 19x + 5.

Example 5: Factor 6x² - 13x + 6.

Example 6: Factor 6x²y – 7xy – 5y.

Example 7: Factor 33 + 14x + x².

Example 8: Factor 30x³ - 155x² + 25x.

Example 9: Factor 6r²s + 7rs² + s³.

Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials (3 terms):

a² + 2ab + b² = (a + b)²
a² - 2ab + b² = (a – b)²
Remember that the 1st and the last term are always perfect
square and the middle term is always twice their product.
Ex: Factor x² + 8x + 16.

Example 1: Decide whether each trinomial is a perfect square

trinomial.
a. x² + 12x + 36
 b. 25x² - 10x + 1

c. 9x² + 20x + 25

d. 4x² + 8x + 11

e. 4x² + 10x + 9

Example 2: Factor the following:

a. x² + 16x + 64

b. 9r² + 24rs + 16s²

c. 25x² - 20x + 4

d. 9x² + 15x + 4